BCC Funds Women’s Legal Service
Lord Mayor commits $300,000 to help end violence against women Funding Women’s Legal Service.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has committed $300,000 over three years to funding Women’s Legal Service Queensland as part of the 2021-22 Brisbane City Council Budget.
Cr Schrinner said his Council wanted to support the worthy group and raise awareness of domestic and family violence.
“This funding is really critical to support women with domestic violence, family law and sexual violence,” he said.
“In June 2020 Women’s Legal Service had a 47 per cent increase in calls to their state-wide help line and in the 2019-20 financial year they answered 10,000 calls and provided more than 40,000 services.
“Sadly 40 per cent of calls for the helpline still go unanswered due to lack of resources.
“I am allocating $100,000 in funding per year so Women’s Legal Service can reach more women and provide the service so many women need.
“Sadly, we have recently seen some absolutely tragedies linked to domestic violence. No one deserves that and it must stop.
“It’s important we direct additional funding to organisations that will help people live free of violence, abuse or intimidation.
“I believe governments play a crucial role in driving change and I want the Schrinner Council to be a leader when it comes to supporting organisations that support residents and made real change.”
WLSQ President Dominique Lamb said the funding would help the service manage escalating demand for legal assistance, particularly relating to domestic violence.
“In recent years, Queensland has seen many high-profile cases of domestic and family violence, including intimate partner homicide,” Ms Lamb said.
“The greatest tragedy is that those high-profile cases are only the tip of the ice-berg. Every day WLSQ comes across new cases of women and children needing crisis legal support for their own protection.
“We need to continue campaigning for a society where this violence simply doesn’t occur. Until that day, however, we need to provide as much protection and support as possible for vulnerable people.
“This funding commitment from the Schrinner Council will help us to continue providing services to those in greatest need, and we thank the Lord Mayor for his support of WLSQ.”
More information about this funding can be found at https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-and-rates/news-and-publications/council-annual-plan-and-budget/council-annual-plan-and-budget-2021-22